MANILA, Philippines - The Freedom of Information bill was one step away from passage, but the House of Representatives didn't deliver.

On its last session day before going on recess for the May 10 elections, the lower House failed to ratify the bill, putting to waste all the efforts put in by its advocates who say the bill will allow ordinary citizens access to information of public concern from all branches of government.

Congress convenes as the National Board of Canvassers after the May elections to tabulate the presidential and vice-presidential election results and proclaim the winners.

Some congressmen argue they can allow for time to act on pending bills when they convene in May, but Freedom of Information bill advocate Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III said the chances of the bill's passage are very slim. It may also be difficult to muster a quorum by then.

This means the bill will go back to square one in the legislative mill when it's filed in the next Congress.

"The lack of action by the House of Representatives on the Freedom of Information bill is the clearest indication that this government does not stand for transparency," said Vincent Lazatin of the Transparency and Accountability Network, one of the NGOs pushing for the bill.

One last step

The Senate ratified the bill on Monday, February 1. Ratification by the House was the last step needed before it is submitted to President Arroyo so she can sign it into law.

The lower House's ratification of the bill on Wednesday would have taken no more than 30 seconds. To ratify a bill, the majority floor leader just had to announce the approval of the bicameral committee report and then ask if there were objections. If there was none, the bill would have been ratified.

NGOs pushing for the bill were present at the gallery of the lower House. They were looking forward to the seeing the completion of their work. Unfortunately, their representatives failed them.

The House of Representatives wasn't keen on ratifying the bill. Last Monday, Tañada made sure the members of the bicameral committee signed the committee report, and this allowed the Senate to ratify it that day.

Tañada pushed for the ratification of the bill on the last session day, February 3, but the House leadership failed him. The session was immediately adjourned because of lack of quorum. Only 91 congressmen were present, short of the needed 135 congressmen for a quorum.

Palace hand?

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño believes it was Malacañang that blocked the bill.

"Nothing happens in the House without Malacañang's say, especially on a bill like this," Casiño said. He said the administration may be "allergic" to a bill that promotes transparency in the affairs of the state.

"This is the antidote of the House and the Senate against executive privilege. Definitely, the executive doesn't want that," he said.

"If Malacañang wants something, it's easy for them to do it. Kung 91 ang count dito, they can easily count inside the South Lounge and that's how they do it. Pero walang effort. Mararamdaman mo naman if they are interested. Apparently, they are not," Casiño said.

Factors for adjournment

According to congressmen who spoke to reporters on the condition that they not be named, various factors led to the early adjournment on the last session day.

They confirmed that some were not keen on passing the Freedom of Information bill. But that was not the only reason.

Apparently, the congressmen were also split in passing the bill granting a fixed term to the chief of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The Cebu bloc also sought to prevent the oath taking of Liberal Party bet Celestino "Tining" Martinez as the duly elected representative of Cebu's 4th district.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled Martinez the winner over Lakas-Kampi's Benhur Salimbangon.

Cojuangco moves for nuclear plant

For an entirely different motive, Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco questioned the lack of quorum and appealed the move to adjourn due to lack of quorum. He was intent on pursuing deliberations on his pet bill, the revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

"There is quorum! There is quorum!," Cojuangco shouted forcing the House leadership to entertain him. He argued that there were 138 congressmen at the plenary, but his attempt fell short after he reportedly suffered from hypertension and required immediate medical attention.

The advocates of the Freedom of Information bill then chanted, "Ratify, ratify!" in an attempt to pressure congressmen into passing the bill. But since their chanting violated House rules, security personnel immediately removed them from the Plenary Hall. One of those forced to leave was Lazatin.

Before 7 p.m., session resumed and then adjourned after it was confirmed there was no quorum.